Spain: Multicultural Spain Through Community Service

Orientation in Madrid

Photo of participants by a fountain

Your adventure begins with an action-packed three- or four-day orientation in Madrid. Put your Spanish to use as you order tapas in a local café, ask for directions to the Palacio Real, and explore the city’s medieval streets. Visits to incredible museums on the "museum mile," discussions in city parks, and exploration of diverse neighborhoods strengthen your understanding of contemporary Spanish life and culture. Your orientation concludes with a full-day excursion to historic Toledo.

Homestay, Community Service, and Travel

Group enjoying a meal together

For centuries, Christians, Jews, and Muslims lived a peaceful and productive coexistence in Spain. Trace the historical and cultural influences of these religions to learn about the conditions necessary for a tolerant multicultural society in modern Spain. Following a weeklong orientation in Madrid and Toledo, live with a family in a vibrant Spanish community. Travel to Pamplona to volunteer with a local community- based organization working to integrate recent immigrants into Spanish society. Your adventure concludes with a week exploring the Basque country and communities along the Cantabric Sea in the north.

 

Sample activities: Explore the restaurants, street life, and architecture of Madrid and Toledo; meet with a local heritage expert to gain a deeper appreciation of the cultural influences that have shaped contemporary Spanish society; enjoy a day on the beach; work with recent immigrants in Madrid; visit the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao.

Code: ESCS (4 weeks)
Features: Community Service, Travel
Prerequisites: Spanish (at least 2 years)
Dates: July 1 - July 30
Depart/Return: New York
Fee: $6,400